Department for Transport

Airlines: Insolvency

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the response from representativesof the aviation industry to the proposals outlined in the Airline Insolvency Review.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government has not made any assessment of the immediate response from the aviation industry to the Final Report from the independent Airline Insolvency Review, which was published on 9 May 2019. In the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS 1546) on the 9 May 2019, the Secretary of State for Transport noted that Government is considering the range of options put forward by the review and will work swiftly to introduce the reforms that are needed to ensure a strong level of consumer protection and value for money for the taxpayer. In doing so the Secretary of State also acknowledged a need to consider the challenges faced by the aviation sector. The Secretary of State also indicated in the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS 1546) on the 9 May 2019, that he would welcome views on the independent Airline Insolvency Review recommendations, including those from the aviation industry, as part of the ongoing consultation on Aviation 2050 and is encouraging stakeholders to respond by the 20 June 2019 when the consultation closes.

Lifeboats

lord harries of pentregarth: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Sugg on 4 February (HL Deb, col 1324), what evidence they received that (1) the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) decision to downgrade the New Quay lifeboat capacity was based on extensive research of incident reports and consideration of local concerns, and (2) the RNLI carries out a coastal safety review every five years; and whether they will publish the evidence they hold in relation to both issues.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is an independent charity which declares a lifeboat service to Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) and has advised HMG of their decision to downgrade the New Quay Lifeboat based on the evidence they have collated. HMG has not been provided with copies of the RNLI’s evidence which remains their intellectual property. The RNLI has also advised HMG of their continuous coastal safety reviews which they carry out to evaluate their own assets on a five-yearly basis. Again, as an independent charity, the RNLI are not required to provide HMG with the written evidence of such reviews and has not done so.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fracking

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Henley on 10 April (HL15067), what, if any, ongoing assessment or review is being conducted of the ability of operators to fulfil their responsibilities and fund decommissioning costs after (1) the issuance of a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence, and (2) the granting of Hydraulic Fracturing Consent.

lord henley: The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) is responsible for ensuring that operators are fulfilling their responsibilities under their licence. As such, the OGA has the ability to carry out financial assessments to review an operator’s ability to fund its activities within the licence area, which would include decommissioning of any wells drilled. These financial assessments take place when there is a licence transaction to consider, such as changes of control, or where other approvals are sought such as drilling consent and field development consent. In addition, the Secretary of State may withdraw Hydraulic Fracturing Consent if there has been a material change in circumstances and my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State no longer considers it appropriate to remain in force.

Fracking

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 10 April (HL15067),what communications they have had with landowners and local authorities regarding the decommissioning of fracking sites in the event that an operator does not fulfil their obligations.

lord henley: The Department routinely corresponds with a range of stakeholders in relation to the regulatory regime for shale gas extraction, including decommissioning obligations. The Government has always been clear that it expects licensees to fulfil obligations to decommission shale gas sites.

Furniture: Fire Prevention

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the differences between the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

lord henley: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 work in different ways but both aim to provide protection from fire risks. The Government’s review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 aims to ensure they reflect changes in fire safety risks, and respond to developments in furniture design, innovation, manufacturing processes and environmental and health concerns while maintaining fire safety protections.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Pakistan: Marriage

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they welcome the decision of the Pakistan Senate to pass a bill to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 1929 to set the minimum marriage age at 18 years in Pakistan; and whether they will consider ways in which UK aid to Pakistan could be used to facilitate the effective enforcement of that legislation.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK welcomes the decision by the Pakistan Senate to pass the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2019.The UK provided £282 million to Pakistan for the financial year 2018-19 under the AAWAZ I: Voice and Accountability Programme to promote the rights of children, youth and women. Of this, around £400,000 was spent on preventing forced and early marriages. The Department For International Development (DFID) is considering ways in which UK aid could be used to facilitate the effective implementation of the legislation once the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill is passed by the National Assembly, working with government institutions and communities to help end child marriage. DFID has set aside funding for interventions in support of ending child marriage under its AAWAZ II programme.We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations to vulnerable groups, including women and girls, and to uphold the rule of law.

Daphne Caruana Galizia

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Government ministers have met the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia to offer support to efforts to achieve justice in her case.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​No British Government ministers have met with the family but we have made clear, both in public and with the Maltese Government, our support for justice to be served. We would consider any written request for a meeting if received.

Israel: Golan Heights

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the extension of Israeli laws, jurisdiction and administration to the Golan Heights; what were the outcomes of any such discussions; and what assessment they have made of whether that extension prejudices the possibility of peace in Syria.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have been clear to our Israeli counterparts that the UK views the Golan Heights as territory occupied by Israel. Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law, including the UN Charter. The UK did not recognise Israel's annexation in 1981 and we have no plans to change our position. On 26 March we reiterated our firm position on this matter at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Israel: Bedouin

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are takingto secure the permanent protection and improvement of Bedouin villages in Israel and the West Bank, in particular Khan al-Ahmar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is gravely concerned by Israeli proposals to relocate the Bedouin population from the E1 area, which the UN has said could constitute forcible transfer. We have also expressed our strong opposition to the proposed demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. We regularly raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities

Israel: Palestinians

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of Palestinian children detained in prison in Israel; whether, and to what extent, they consider such detentions to violate Article 147 of the Geneva Convention; and whether they intend to call for penal sanctions under that Convention against persons who commit unlawful deportation, transfers or confinement.

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure proper access for parents and legal advisers to Palestinian children under arrest by Israel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We understand 203 Palestinian children were in Israeli military detention at the end of December 2018. It remains our assessment that the transfer of Palestinian child and adult detainees to prisons inside Israel is in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. We continue to make representations on this important issue to the Israeli authorities as well as to ensure proper access for parents and legal advisers to Palestinian children under arrest by the Israeli authorities.

Cyprus: Military Alliances

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the recent Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Cyprus for the Government’s role as a guarantor power under 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, and for the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community to be fairly represented on the island.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Defence and Security Co-operation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus builds on the existing Bilateral Defence and Co-operation Programme and strengthens our cooperation. The MoU has no implications for the UK's role as a Guarantor Power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee or for how the Turkish Cypriot community is represented on the island.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Israel intends to seize 95 acres of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands in order to build new roads for Israeli settlers; and what steps they intend to take to protect Palestinians who own and farm such land.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We oppose any steps taken by the Israeli Government towards the expansion of settlements. We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including the UK’s statement at the UN Security Council on 29 April, and we continue to raise with our Israeli counterparts our concerns about the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land that has been caused by settlement-related activity.

Israel: West Bank

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has made monetary grants available for the construction of hotels in Area C of the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We oppose any steps taken by the Israeli Government towards the expansion of settlements. Such settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the physical viability of the two-state solution. We reiterated this in the UK’s statement at the UN Security Council on 29 April. We continue to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms for zoning, planning and permitting in Area C for the benefit of the Palestinian population, including by facilitating local Palestinian participation in such processes.​

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about the number of Palestinian properties being demolished, in particular those that have been demolished without warning or explanation.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have repeatedly made representations to the Government of Israel to end the demolition of Palestinian properties. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution, and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Israel about the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly raise the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons with the Israeli authorities and emphasise the importance of treating prisoners and detainees humanely and in accordance with international law.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to protect Palestinian agricultural land following reports that Israeli occupation forces used military bulldozers to raze Palestinian cultivated land lots in Beit Jala.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to raise with our Israeli counterparts our concerns about the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land that has been caused by settlement-related activity.

Jerusalem: Demolition

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take in response to the call by UN officials on 3 May for an immediate halt to demolitions in East Jerusalem and respect for international law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to end demolitions of Palestinian properties in East Jerusalem given the impact on ordinary Palestinians and on the viability of a future Palestinian state. The EU issued a statement on 26 April noting recent demolitions with grave concern and requesting that Israel reconsider pending demolition orders in East Jerusalem.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to supporting the establishment of safe havens for the people of Gaza who are unable to protect themselves from Israeli bombing.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We deplore the loss of life in both Israel and Gaza during the recent exchange of rocket fire. We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and remain a committed and leading supporter of the UN Refugees and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The UK also recognise that Israel has the right to protect itself from indiscriminate Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli communities. The UK welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire and recognises the vital role played by the UN and Egypt in securing it.

Bahrain: Human Rights

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will include Bahrain as a Human Rights Priority Country in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Report 2018; and if so, on what basis.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Bahrain currently remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country on the basis outlined in the last published report of 2017.

Sayed Alwadaei

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they did not refer to reprisals against family members of human rights defender Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Report 2017; and whether they intend to refer to such reprisals in the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2018.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While the case of Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei and his family was not specifically mentioned in the 2017 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Report, the British Government has raised his case with the Bahraini Government. The noble Lord will be aware from previous answers in this House that we have received categorical assurances from the Bahraini authorities that legal cases against Mr Alwadaei’s family members are not related to Mr Alwadaei’s activities.​

Hajer Mansoor Hassan

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 29 April (HL15262), what steps they will take to verify the “categorical assurances” they have received that Ms Mansoor will continue to receive access to appropriate medical care.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have raised the cases of Bahraini national, Hajer Mansoor Hassan, on a regular basis at senior levels with the Bahraini Government and continue to closely monitor the case. We have received confirmation that Ms Mansoor has had numerous medical appointments since January 2018 and will continue to have access to all necessary healthcare and medical treatment whilst in detention, as guaranteed by the Bahraini constitution.

Burkina Faso: Churches

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the deaths of six people during a church service in Burkino Faso on 12 May, and other recent attacks on churches; what ideology they believe motivated those attacks; and who they believe was responsible.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government is appalled by the murder of six people in Burkina Faso during a Sunday Church service on 12 May and other recent attacks on civilians peacefully practicing their faith. We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso, which is spreading from the north to the east of the country, and the increasing instability in the wider Sahel region.The identity of the attackers is not confirmed and there have been no claims of responsibility. The UK is committed to work with Burkina Faso and international partners to help tackle instability and protect freedom of religion or belief for all.

Sudan: Politics and Government

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of therequest of the former Sudanese Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi that the UK help Sudan to create a modern democracy and support the handing over of Field Marshall Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK has received no official request from Mr al-Mahdi, although we are aware of reports of the request in the media. Since Bashir's removal on 11 April, the UK has made clear public statements calling for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift and peaceful transition to civilian rule. The UK has called for a transition to a political system that is inclusive, supported by a sound constitutional basis that is respectful of human rights and the rule of law and that ensures accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed. We continue to engage with national and international actors, articulating the UK's readiness to work with Sudan's people in order to make the political transition a success.

Iraq: Children

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that some 45,000 children in Iraqi displacement camps are without civil ID documentation; and what representations they intend to make to the government of Iraq to ensure that those children are not excluded from Iraqi citizenship and society in the future.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of the media reports regarding children without documentation in Iraqi displacement camps, although we cannot verify the numbers cited. We recognise the vulnerability of these children and the risks of them being excluded from Iraqi citizenship and society in the future. We continue to raise these concerns with the Iraqi authorities including the importance of formal recognition of all children. We were pleased to hear of the Government of Iraq's initiative to address the status of children born of rape to Yezidi women and hope this will soon be reflected across the country.

Guatemala: War Crimes

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the government of Guatemala about the risks of the bill proposing to grant amnesty to those who have committed war crimes; and whether, in any such representations, they will emphasise the need to protect the justices of the Constitutional Court and other judges against threats and intimidation.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We welcome the fact that the proposed amendments to the National Reconciliation Law, which would have signified a worrying trend towards impunity from serious crimes, lacked sufficient backing in the Guatemalan Congress on 13 March. The UK supported a statement by the local donors' coordination group G13 on 13 March and an EU statement on 26 March condemning the proposed amendments, reiterating support for Guatemala's democratic institutions and calling on the Guatemalan government to respect the independence of the constitutional court. Through our Embassy in Guatemala City, we continue to raise our concerns about the rule of law, human rights and institutional independence with the Guatemalan government.

Abdullah Öcalan

lord wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey in relation to the Kurdish hunger strikers who are campaigning for the end of the solitary confinement in which the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is being held on the island of Imrali in contravention of European and international law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Government has raised Mr Öcalan’s case with the Turkish authorities a number of times. The Minister for Europe and the Americas raised the issue most recently with the Turkish Ambassador on 13 May. While strongly condemning the ongoing violence perpetrated by the PKK, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, we have encouraged the Turkish authorities to implement the recommendations made by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture following their visit to Imrali prison. In this regard, I welcome the fact that Mr Öcalan was granted access to two lawyers on 2 May. I also note the comment made by Mr Öcalan, via his lawyers, that individuals should not pursue these hunger strikes to the point of serious illness or death.

Department for Education

Education: Migrant Workers

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase recruitment of staff from non-EU countries in the UK education sector after Brexit.

lord agnew of oulton: The department is committed to ensuring that schools are able to recruit appropriately to fill their teacher vacancies. The majority of teachers in schools in England are recruited from within the UK and our priority is to meet our teacher recruitment needs domestically. However, schools have always been able to recruit staff internationally, and teachers from overseas make an important contribution to our education system. The department runs programmes to help schools recruit from overseas. Our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics International Teacher Recruitment Programme supports state-funded secondary schools in England with the recruitment of maths and physics teachers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. In our recently published ‘Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy’, we committed to exploring opportunities to develop new and existing partnerships, focusing particularly on language teachers, in order to boost the recruitment of teachers from overseas. The government’s white paper ‘The UK’s future skills-based immigration system’, outlined proposals to introduce a new skilled workers route, open to all countries across the globe with an expanded skills threshold covering work at Regulated Qualifications Framework level 3 and above, including teachers. Those coming to the UK on this route will need to be sponsored by an employer. As part of developing this new immigration system the Home Office is undertaking a programme of extensive engagement with stakeholders across the whole of the UK to shape the final details of policy and processes, and the department will continue to work very closely with them on this.

Schools: Standards

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the attainment of non-GCSE Key Stage 4 qualifications is reflected in a student's Progress 8 score; and if not, what assessment they have made of the impact that has had on the school that child attends.

lord agnew of oulton: Attainment in up to 3 non-GCSE qualifications from the department’s approved list may count towards a pupil’s Progress 8 score. A full list of qualifications that count in key stage 4 performance tables is attached to this answer.Also attached is an analysis, published by the department in March 2019, that provides an overview of pupil entries into non-GCSE qualifications at key stage 4 and how this varies by pupil characteristics.



HL15683_Tables
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HL15683_PDF
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Ministry of Justice

Arson: Churches

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they hold on the number of, and circumstances behind, arson attacks on churches in (1) the UK, and (2) overseas, in the last two years;how manyprosecutions there have been for such attacks in the UK; and whatassessment they have made of the motives ofthose responsible.

lord keen of elie: We have consulted Home Office, who do not hold detailed information for all police forces around the circumstances and location of offences. Detailed information on the location of arson offences, such as churches, may be held on court record but to be able to identify these cases, as they are not held centrally, we would have to access individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost. Matters relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for those respective devolved administrations.

Treasury

Private Equity

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe declinein private equity investments in UK companies due toBrexit uncertainty.

lord young of cookham: The government is confident that the UK will continue to represent an attractive place to do business, and be a world-leading, global financial centre for asset management, including Private Equity. Investment is crucial for the economic future of this country, and the government is committed to ensuring that businesses can access to the finance they need as we leave the EU. In April 2019, the government provided the British Business Bank with an additional £200m to invest in venture and growth capital in 2019/20.

Electricity: VAT

lord teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of revenue that has been raised in VAT and collected by HMRC from sales of electricity in each year since 1 April 2013 todate.

lord teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of revenue that has been raised in VAT and collected by HMRC from sales of gas in each year since 1 April 2013 to date.

lord teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of revenue that has been raised in VAT and collected by HMRC from sales of heating oil in each year since 1 April 2013 to date.

lord teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of revenue that has been raised in VAT and collected by HMRC from sales of liquid petroleum gas in each year since 1 April 2013 to date.

lord young of cookham: I refer the noble Lord to the answer l gave on 25 April 2019 to Question HL15205[1]. [1] https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-04-10/HL15205/

Taxation: Fraud

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to HM Treasury of "cum-ex" tax fraud since 2012; and whether there have been any related prosecutions.

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of "cum-ex" tax fraud on (1) banks, (2) taxpayers, and (3) HM Treasury.

lord young of cookham: “Cum-ex” tax fraud exploits rules which impose withholding tax (WHT) on dividend payments. The UK does not apply WHT to dividend payments; there is no direct UK tax impact on banks, other taxpayers or HM Treasury.

Children: Poverty

baroness primarolo: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 30 April (HL Deb, col 857), what is the minimum amount that a family with two children under 16 years of age with one adult working full-time on the national minimum wage or national living wage would take home in each year since 2010 if they were claiming child benefit, tax credit, child tax credit and working tax credit.

lord young of cookham: The figures are shown in table 1 below, rounded to the nearest £5.  Table 1: Total take-home pay, Child Benefit, and tax credits for a family with two adults, one of whom is aged 25 or over and works 35 hours per week and receives the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage Year£ per annum2010-1116,8052011-1217,4502012-1317,8152013-1418,2052014-1518,5002015-1618,8402016-1719,2502017-1819,5102018-1919,7752019-2020,135

Customs Unions

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of remarks by the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority about the impact of a post-Brexit customs union on the UK financial services sector.

lord young of cookham: A customs union would eliminate tariff and rules of origin barriers on trade in goods only, as they do not concern trade in services. The Government’s ambition is to preserve the economic benefits of the most important financial services traded between the UK and the EU, and ensure stable institutional processes for governing the relationship in financial services. This is the best way to protect financial stability and open markets, and is in the interests of businesses and consumers on both sides. This ambition is reflected in the Political Declaration agreed by the UK and the EU in November 2018. We remain committed to preserving our competitive position in financial services after the UK has left the European Union. Our industry continues to innovate and to move with the times – we have world-leading positions in the markets of the future, including green and sustainable finance, FinTech, and renminbi and rupee products.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to replicate the European Trading Scheme carbon emissions tax on companies in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

lord young of cookham: In the event that the UK leaves the EU ETS under a No Deal scenario, Government policy remains that we will implement a carbon emissions tax on an interim basis.We are discussing with the Commission the implications of our exit from the EU for our future participation in the EU ETS.A consultation on long-term carbon pricing once the UK has left the UK has now been launched.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Blackpool

baroness valentine: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 9 May (HL15423), whether the Ministry of Defence has consulted Blackpool Council about the potential to locate jobs elsewhere on the Fylde Coast; and whether the decision to relocate the jobs from Norcross is in line with the guidance from the Government Property Unit.

earl howe: The Department is in the process of finalising its preferred course of action, and no final decision has yet been made on the future location of Defence Business Services (DBS) sites in the north-west. As part of the approval process, and before a final decision is made, a full investment appraisal process will be conducted, incorporating full consultation with Local Authorities, including Blackpool Council, and other Government Departments such as the Government Property Agency.

Wellington Barracks

lord brougham and vaux: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byEarl Howe on 1 November 2018 (HL10938), when they expect the refurbishment and work to commence on Wellington Barracks.

earl howe: I have no further update and refer my noble Friend to the answer I gave him on 1 November 2018 to Question HL10938.Work on the assessment phase of the five-year plan to restore and refurbish Wellington Barracks continues.Once this is completed we will be able to set out more detail about the modernisation plans for Wellington Barracks.

Department for Work and Pensions

Food Banks: Somerset

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports showing a 23 per cent increasein demand for food parcels between 2017and 2019 atSomer Valleyfoodbank, Somerset; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for any such increase.

baroness buscombe: The Government does not collect official data on the use of food banks, therefore has not made such assessments.We have worked with food insecurity experts, the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Government to introduce a new set of food security questions in the Family Resources Survey starting from April 2019. This means that we will in future be able to monitor the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity across the UK and for specific groups, to better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Water Companies: Competition

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions there have been between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the need to ensure that small business customers benefit from the non-household retail water market in England.

lord gardiner of kimble: Ofwat are the economic regulator for the water industry, and it regulates and monitors the operation of the retail business market. Ofwat published their first annual report on the market, Open for Business, in July 2018. It identified that small and medium sized business customers are not yet experiencing the same benefits that larger customers receive from the retail market, and raised a number of issues that could be affecting this. Ofwat and Mosl, the market operator, have been taking a number of actions to investigate further and address these issues, including for SMEs. Ofwat is currently undertaking a further assessment of the market with a view to publishing their second annual report in July. My Department has ongoing discussions with Ofwat and Mosl about these issues and will discuss the outcomes of the second annual report with Ofwat in due course. Minister Coffey, the Minister responsible for this policy area, requested that the then Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Margot James MP, use her channels to advertise and promote to small business customers that they can benefit from the non-household retail water market in England.

Glyphosate

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of using glyphosate on wildlife, including birds and insects; andwhat research, if any, they are undertaking into the impact of using glyphosate.

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban the use of glyphosate.

lord gardiner of kimble: The effects of glyphosate on wildlife have been carefully assessed as part of the regulatory process for pesticides. The effects of glyphosate itself were considered by the EU when deciding whether to approve the substance. UK regulatory scientists participated in the assessment made by the European Food Safety Authority and agreed with its conclusions. The Government therefore supported the decision at the end of 2017 to continue the approval of glyphosate. All products containing glyphosate are individually authorised and the Government will not authorise products for which the scientific assessment suggests that there may be unacceptable effects on wildlife. Decisions on glyphosate are based on regulatory studies which companies are required to commission to support their applications. Relevant published data is also considered. The Government is not carrying out its own research on the environmental impact of glyphosate use because a comprehensive evidence base is already available.

Glyphosate

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines they have issued to local authorities on the use of glyphosate on grass verges, park paths, walkways, council gardens and road verges.

lord gardiner of kimble: Those who use, or cause or permit others to apply, glyphosate or other plant protection products are subject to a number of legal requirements. This includes a requirement to minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the general public. The requirements and approaches to good practice are set out in the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products and an accompanying guidance note. Specific requirements and advice for using a particular product are set out on the label.

Glyphosate

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the quantity of glyphosate that has been used by each local authority in England and the cost to each of such use in the last five years for which figures are available.

lord gardiner of kimble: This data is not collected. A regular survey of the amenity use of pesticides is conducted as part of the long-standing system of Pesticide Usage Surveys carried out by Fera Science Ltd. The most recent survey gives data and information on usage for 2016 for those local authorities who submitted data. It does not, however, include cost data and does not give figures for individual local authorities.

Pollinators

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) highlight the importance to the planet of bees and other pollinators such as butterflies and bats, and(2) protect pollinator species.

lord gardiner of kimble: Protecting pollinators is a priority for this Government. The Government supports two major events to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators and encourage people to take action. Firstly, our ‘Bees’ Needs’ campaign, which we run with a number of partners. In July 2018, with the generous support of our hosts, Shaftesbury PLC, we put on a week long event in Carnaby Street (renamed ‘Carnabee’ Street for the week) to raise awareness of the steps we can all take to protect pollinators. With immense gratitude to our hosts Shaftesbury PLC, this event will be repeated this year from 8 to 14 July. Defra also organises, in partnership with the Green Flag Awards, an annual Bees’ Needs Champions Awards to recognise and celebrate examples of exemplary initiatives undertaken by schools, local authorities, universities, community groups and bee farmers to support pollinators. The Government is taking a range of other steps to protect pollinator species. In 2014 we published a ten year National Pollinator Strategy, setting out how the Government, conservation groups, farmers, beekeepers and researchers can work together to improve the status of the 1,500 or so pollinating insect species in England. We are also creating habitat for pollinators. In 2015, we introduced new and simple wildlife ‘packages’ within Countryside Stewardship to make it easier for farmers to provide flower rich margins or pollen and nectar plots on fields to support wild pollinators. The Government also recently announced £60,000 to develop pollinator habitat mapping and is supporting largescale projects to bring landowners and conservationists together to provide habitat in Devon and Hampshire. Natural England, our statutory nature conservation adviser, continues to work with a range of landowning and NGO partners to support the recovery of threatened species such as the barberry carpet moth, shorthaired bumblebee and chequered skipper butterfly. We are supporting monitoring work. In collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations, we have established a pollinator monitoring and research partnership to gather further data and improve our understanding of the status of pollinators and pollination services in the UK. We are taking steps to reduce pressures on pollinators. We have implemented science led restrictions on neonicotinoids based on scientific evidence that they carry risks to pollinators. We continue to tackle threats from invasive species, such as the Asian hornet, and protect honey bees from pests and diseases through the National Bee Unit’s nationwide team of bee inspectors. We are safeguarding honey bee health. Collaboration has been a central tenet of the work by the Government and Bee Inspectors to protect honey bee health. Along with beekeeping associations, the Government has carried out a decade of work under the Healthy Bees Plan, drafted in 2009 as a means of sustaining our honey bee population. We will be reviewing this work this year and using valuable lessons from this to develop our future strategy.

Home Office

Migration Advisory Committee: Public Appointments

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the criteria for any new appointments to their Migration Advisory Committee include expertise on both the positive and negative impacts of immigration on the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: Any appointment to the MAC will be made in line with the Cabinet Office Governance Code for Public Appointment 2016 and Ministers will decide the appropriate criteria to be used.The most recent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) appointments were made in 2017 and the criteria for those appointments were set out in the advertisement on the HM Government Public Appointments website,https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/

British Nationality: Fees and Charges

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the UK citizenship application fee in (1) 2000, (2) 2010, and (3) 2015, for both children and adults in each such year.

baroness williams of trafford: The fees for UK citizenship applications were as follows: RouteCalendar YearDates each fee applicableFeeNaturalisation200001/01/00 to 31/12/00£150 per applicant201001/01/10 to 05/04/10£640 per applicant / Spouse or Civil Partner additional £5006/04/10 to 20/11/10£655 per applicant / Spouse or Civil Partner additional £11521/11/10 to 31/12/10£700 per applicant / Spouse or Civil Partner additional £150201501/01/15 to 05/4/15£826 per applicant06/04/15 to 31/12/15£925 per applicantAdult Registration Fees200001/01/00 to 31/12/00£120 per applicant201001/01/10 to 05/04/10£460 per applicant06/04/10 to 20/11/10£470 per applicant21/11/10 to 31/12/10£500 per applicant201501/01/15 to 05/4/15£743 per applicant06/04/15 to 31/12/15£833 per applicantChild Registration Fees200001/01/00 to 31/12/00£120 per applicant201001/01/10 to 05/04/101st Child £460/ each subsequent child £5006/04/10 to 20/11/101st Child £470 each subsequent child £9721/11/10 to 31/12/101st Child £500/ 2nd Child £100/ each subsequent child £150201501/01/15 to 05/4/15£669 per applicant06/04/15 to 31/12/15£749 per applicant

British Nationality: Fees and Charges

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of asylum-seeking children who are unable to apply for UK citizenship due to the cost of the application fee.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office have not made any estimation of the number of asylum seeking children unable to apply for UK citizenship due to the cost of the application fee.In line with international law, the UK does not charge for asylum applications. Those granted refugee status can then apply for indefinite leave to remain at the end of their limited leave period. This application is also free of charge.Applying for British nationality is not mandatory and many individuals who have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) status choose not to apply. This is because, in addition to lawful permanent residence in the UK, a person with ILR enjoys the benefits of full access to the UK labour market, state education and healthcare and the ability to sponsor family members’ residence in the UK. Fees for citizenship applications apply equally to all applicants.

Asylum: Finance

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether funding currently dedicated to asylum matters will be ring-fenced following the UK's departure from the EU.

baroness williams of trafford: There are currently no plans to apply a ring fence to asylum payments in this financial year.Any new restrictions to departmental spending would be agreed with HM Treasury. Any further changes would form part of the Spending Review discussions taking place this year for financial year 2020-21 onwards.

Department for International Trade

USA: China

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the trade dispute between the United States and China; and of the effect of that dispute on global markets.

viscount younger of leckie: The UK remains concerned about the current trade tensions between the US and China which could adversely affect global growth.The UK shares some of the US’s concerns with China’s trade practices and believes they should be addressed through structural opening in China and through multilateral cooperation, including ambitious reform of the WTO. The UK supports ongoing dialogue between the US and China to resolve these issues with an outcome that is WTO-compliant. We continue to raise our concerns with partners.

Trade Agreements

baroness quin: To ask Her Majesty's Government with which countries, in order of priority, they wish to conclude trade deals post-Brexit; and what estimate they have made, if any, of the likely timescale of concluding such deals.

viscount younger of leckie: Our priority is to be in a position to begin formal negotiations with key partners after we leave the EU, and to then make progress towards substantive agreements, so long as such agreements work for the whole of the UK. We have completed public consultations on potential future free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and on the UK’s potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We plan to publish Government responses for each of the four consultations before any formal negotiations begin.Trade agreements vary in shape, scope and form, and there is no “average” timeframe for completion. For example, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada took seven years to negotiate, the China-Switzerland FTA took two, but the USA-Jordan FTA negotiations only four months. The Government is clear that its objective is to negotiate the best possible FTAs for the whole of the UK, in the interests of business and consumers.While we are looking to forge new agreements, the Government is also seeking continuity for our existing EU trade agreements as we leave the EU. A list of all signed trade continuity agreements is available on the GOV.UK website.

Overseas Trade: Gambia

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to increase the amount of trade between the UK and The Gambia.

viscount younger of leckie: As the Prime Minister set out during her visit to Africa last Summer, the Government is committed to seeing a step change in our relationship with Africa in order to drive forward trade and investment. The Africa Trade Services Unit was set up to act as the single point of contact for UK companies exporting to Africa. The Unit responds to all Africa trade enquiries, including those related to Gambia, and can support UK companies through the delivery of trade services. The UK remains committed to ensuring developing countries can reduce poverty through trading opportunities. The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act 2018 enables the UK to put in place a trade preferences scheme for developing countries that maintains the same level of access as the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences, which will grant duty-free, quota-free access to Least Developed Countries, including The Gambia.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Knives: Crime

lord crathorne: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the findings of the report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Knife Crime that rising knife crime is linked to cuts in youth services, what are their plans to introduce a national youth strategy; and who will be responsible for its implementation.

lord ashton of hyde: No report has yet been issued by the APPG on Knife Crime and statistics published to date are interim ones pending further responses from Local Authorities. We will make a full assessment of those findings once a report is published. The government recognises that the causes of knife crime are complex and are often tied to local factors and we are committed to taking a multi-agency approach to tackling serious violence. Last month following the Prime Minister’s summit on serious youth violence, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced that the Government will be developing a new Youth Charter, which will set out our vision for young people over the next generation and beyond. We will be working closely across government, and alongside young people themselves, the youth sector, and other partners. My department will also continue to work closely with the Home Office on the implementation of the Serious Violence Strategy.

Artificial Intelligence: Privacy

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage large providers of artificial intelligence technology to ensure greater privacy rights for customers.

lord ashton of hyde: The Data Protection Act 2018 set new standards for protecting personal data, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. It imposed strict obligations on organisations to ensure that personal data is processed safely and securely. Organisations which fail to comply with the new legislation may be investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office and subject to substantial fines. All organisations that process personal information must comply with data protection principles. One of these principles states that organisations shall be fair, lawful and transparent in the collection and use of personal data. That means all relevant organisations, including providers of artificial intelligence technology, must clearly explain and justify what they will be doing with personal information that they collect. The Government has also recently set up the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation to identify and address any gaps in the data and AI governance landscape, as and when they emerge. The Centre will provide independent expert advice to Government on the measures needed to enable and ensure safe, ethical and innovative use of data and technology.